LONDON (Sky Sports) - Toni Minichiello has been banned from coaching for life by UK Athletics over sexually inappropriate conduct after being found to have committed “gross breaches of trust”.
The 56-year-old, who had been subject of multiple complaints from women in athletics, was found to have committed 11 serious charges by an independent case-management group.
Various other charges were not proven.
An independent panel found Minichiello’s actions to “have had severe consequences for the mental health and mental wellbeing of the athletes under his charge”.
The findings relate to anonymous athletes over a 15-year period.
The panel added that Minichiello had mimicked sexual activity with athletes and inappropriately and unwantedly touched some, while also making intrusive enquiries and derogatory comments about their personal lives.
This included making inappropriate comments about some of his athletes’ relationships and boyfriends, telling one she would “never get married” and “never have kids”.
Minichiello was also found to have made one athlete sit in a corner with a cone on their head as a dunce’s hat.
UKA said it “wishes to recognize those who came forward to give evidence in this case. We thank them and strongly encourage anyone with a concern to come forward”.
Minichiello was named BBC Sports Personality Coach of the Year 10 years ago after guiding Jessica Ennis-Hill to Olympic glory at London 2012. He has also commentated on athletics for BBC TV.
His coaching licence has expired and therefore cannot be subject to a sanction, however UKA says it has decided that it will not entertain any future application made by Minichiello.